Handling apparatus



- J. K. SMITH E AL'" HANDLING APPARATUS Sept. 17, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1959 INVENTORS ,faxm/ KZW H A840 flue/ F JLW; a 0 4 ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 J. K. SMITH ETAL" HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I w INVENTORS c fi A/w/rf/ A640 Jae/ F www- W Filed Oct. 9, 1959 ATTORNEY Filed Oct. 9, 1959 P 1963 J. K. SMITH ETAL 3, l04,02 3

HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS BY 2 W ATTORNEY v S p 1963 J. K. SMITH EI'AL 3,104,023

HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1959 iii ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 J. K. SMITH ETAL 3,104,023

HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,104,023 HANDLING APPARATUS John K. Smith, 2931 Cornwall Road, and Arlo Bord, 2901 Liberty Parkway, both of Dundalk, Md. Filed Oct. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 845,521 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-653) The present invention relates to a material-handling apparatus and a control system therefor, and particularly relates to apparatus for engaging and rotating coils or rolls of sheet material.

Most coils or rolls of aluminum and tin plate or similar sheet material are at present positioned on their ends to facilitate shipping so as to reduce damage to the coiled material. This practice with the methods now used involves several different operations by several different apparatus units and personnel, as indicated below:

(a) A ram-type truck is used to pick Mp the coil of metal lying on its periphery with its axis generally horizontal and transport the coil to an upender. This requires one ram truck and one operator. (b) The upender picks up. the coil of metal still in a position with its axis generally horizontal and rotates the coil 90 and positions it onto a platform or skid, thus requiring one upender and one operator. (0) Then a fork-type truck is utilized to pick up the coil of metal and the skid and remove them to the designated place of storage or transpontation. If the coils of metal are transported, then the parties receiving the coils of metal must have the same type of equipment and perform the above steps in reverse, thus requiring an excess of equipment and personnel.

It is obvious from the above that a considerable amount of space is required for this operation and that a substantial amount of handling of the product is necessary. All of this is expensive and, with each additional handling of the material, more damage to the coils will occur. The invention described hereinbelow involves a single piece of equipment that can operate in any area and perform all of the above-mentioned operations, therefore reducing handling, unnecessary equipment and personnel, conserve storage area, reduce cost, and provide for faster operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide handling apparatus that will engage :an article, rotate it, and enable a skid to be placed adjacent one of its ends.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a handling apparatus in which a contractible and expansible mandrel is used to engage the hole of the coil of metal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a handling apparatus that will substantially decrease damage to the handled articles.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a handling apparatus equipped with a mandrel that will automatically sense the full entry of the mandrel into the hole of the article and automatically expand the mandrel to conform to the diameter of the hole.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa fork lift truck embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly in section of the carriage and fork and mandrel arms of the fork lift truck of FIG. 1 and showing certain constructional details thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional View of the carriage;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the mandrel;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the mandrel;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the horizontal and vertical positioning tracks;

'FiG. 7a is a rear perspective view of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic View of the electric and hydraulic circuits for actuation and control of the apparatus of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used for like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fork lift truck generally designated T having a prime mover compartment P with a motor therein and an operators compartment O.

A guide frame 46 is mounted on the truck and carries an upstanding lifting jack 47. A chain 51lis secured to the top of jack 47 and to carriage C to effect vertical movement of the latter.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage C comprises a hoist plate 45 attached by conventional means to the chain 5d. Secured to hoist plate 45 by means of bolts 45a is a circular locking plate 3- having oppositely or inwardly and outwardly extending flanges 3a and 312.

A rotating member 2 is mounted and retained within locking plate 3 by means of flange 3b and thrust and radial bearings 1. The rotating member 2 is secured to back plate 4 by bolts 20. As will be understood, back plate 4 and its associated structure will be rotated relative to hoist plate 45.

Back plate 4 has mounted thereon guides 6 and 60. Each guide has inwardly facing transverse channels 51 ending at 52 which acts as a stop. Each guide 6 and 6a also has outwardly facing transverse channels 53 ending at 54 which acts as a stop. A carriage carrying mandrel arm 7 is sli'dably mounted within inwardly facing channels 51. A mandrel arm cylinder 11 is attached to back plate 4 and has a piston rod 11a connected to an ear 11b on the carriage for mandrel arm 7.

A fork assembly 10 is slidably mounted in outwardly facing channels 53. On top of guide '6 there is mounted a fork assembly cylinder 5 adjacent stop 54. A piston rod 55 is connected to cars 56 located on top of fork assembly 10, Similarly, on the bottom of guide 6a a cylinder 5a is mounted which includes a piston rod (not shown) connected to ears (not shown) located on the bottom of fork assembly 10. As will be understood, actuation of pistons in cylinders 5, 5a and 11 will cause mandrel arm 7 and fork assembly to move inwardly and outwardly to closed and open positions.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there may be seen the expansible and contractible mandrel 8 which is mounted on the outer portion of mandrel arm 7. Expanding support arms 16 have mandrel guides 14 which are slidably mounted in locking guides 13. A gusset 15 extends from each guide 14 to the underside of expanding support arm 16 to provide additional support. Ears 25 are mounted substantially in the central part of each expanding support 16, and one end of expanding arms 19 is pivot ally connected 'by pins 19a thereto. A spring 21 is also connected between ears 25 to urge expanding support arms 16 in an inward direction.

A mandrel cylinder 9 is mounted by a trunnion 22 in aperture 9a of mandrel arm 7. The clevis 17 of rod 24 of mandrel cylinder 9 is pivot-ally connected to the central portion of pivot pin 18. The other end of expanding arms '19 is pivotally connected to the ends of pivot pin 18. The ends of pivot pin 18 are smaller in diameter than the remaining part in order to provide a shoulder thereby maintaining expanding arms; 19 in predetermined planes.

'A limit switch 23 is mounted adjacent one of expanding arms 19. When mandrel 8 is in expanded position, the movable contact of switch 23 is in its normal position. However, when mandrel 8 is contracted, the movable con tact of switch 23 is biased to prepare a circuit to cylinder 11 in order to open mandrel arm 7.

Another limit switch 20 is mounted rearwardly of mandrel 8 which controls closure of mandrel arm 7 and also actuation of expanding support arms 16.

A horizontal and vertical positioning assembly 12 is mounted adjacent hoist plate 45. A horizontal positioning track 26 is mounted in the same plane and parallel to vertical positioning track 27. Horizontal positioning track 26 is curved and connects with vertical positioning track 27 through a vertical and horizontal selector cam 28.

A vertical and horizontal shaft 29 is mounted by one end to the rear of back plate 4-, and the other end has a roller 31 mounted thereon. The roller 31 moves within tracks 26 and 27 of horizontal and vertical positioning assembly 12. As will be understood, movement of roller 31 from track 26 to 27 will effect a 90 rotation of carriage C.

The vertical and horizontal selector cam 28 is pivotally mounted on a trunnion 57 at the junction of tracks 26 and 27. An arm 57:: is secured to the trunnion 57 of cam 28, and a spring-biased armature 58 of solenoid 30 is pivotally connected to arm 57a. Thus, the spring of armature 58 maintains cam 28 in one positioning track while the solenoid 30 actuates cam 28 to the other positioning track.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a source of current 100 connected to conductor .101, the conductor 101 being connected to the neutral contacts N of hoist control switch 33 and fork control switch 32. The other side of source 100 is grounded to effect a return path.

The fork control switch has an aim 102 which is movable from a neutral position to closed and open positions. When arm 102 is moved to the closed position, a circuit is completed to solenoid 104 through conductor 103 and ground to position valve 35 to the pressure side of the hydraulic system and causes cylinders to move the fork assembly to a closedposition. When arm 102 is moved to the open position, a circuit is completed to solenoid 106 through conductor 105 and ground to position valve 35 to the discharge side of the hydraulic system and causes cylinders 5 to move the fork assembly 10 to an open position.

The hoist switch 33 has an arm 107 which is movable from a neutral position to an up or down position. When arm 107 is placed in the up position, a circuit is completed through conductor 108 to solenoid 109 and ground which moves valve 36 to the pressure side of the hydraulic system thereby causing cylinder 40 to raise the carriage assembly. When arm 107 is moved to the down position, a circuit is completed through conductor 110, solenoid 111 and ground to .position valve 36 to the discharge side of the hydraulic system which causes cylinder 40 to lower the carriage. Another circuit is completed by conductor 112, solenoid 113 and ground to position vent valve 41 in order to effect a proper functioning hydraulic system.

The mandrel arm and mandrel control switch 34 have an arm 115 which moves from a neutral position to an open and closed position. The arm 115 is also connected by conductor 114 to the neutral contact N of hoist control switch 33. When arm 115 is moved to the closed position, a circuit is completed through conductor 116, limit switch 20, conductor 117, solenoid -118 and ground which positions valve 37 to the pressure side of the hydraulic system causing cylinder 11 to shift mandrel arm 7 towards closed position. As will be understood, when limit switch is actuated, a circuit will be completed from conductor 116, limit switch 20, conductor 1&9, solenoid 121 and ground which positions valve 38 to the discharge side of the hydraulic system causing cylinder 9 to expand mandrel 8. When arm 115 is placed in the open position, a circuit will be completed through conductor 122, limit switch 23, conductor 123, solenoid 124 and ground which moves the valve 37 to the discharge side of the hydraulic system causing cylinder 11 to open mandrel arm 7. As will be understood, when limit switch 23 is in its normal position due to mandrel arms being expanded, a circuit will be completed from conductor 122, limit switch 23, conductor 125, solenoid 126 and ground which positions valve 38 to the pressure side of the hydraulic system causing cylinder 9 to contract mandrel 8.

The vertical and horizontal track selector switch has an arm 127 which is movable from a neutral position to a closed position. When arm 127 is moved to the closed position, a circuit is completed from conductor 128, arm 127, conductor 129, solenoid 30 and ground.

The hydraulic system is of conventional design and a further description thereof is unnecessary.

'In operation, it will be assumed that a source of pressure in the hydraulic system is operative; that a coil of metal is resting on its periphery, and it is desired to pick up the coil, rotate the coil and place it on a platform for shipping.

The truck approaches the coil with both sliding members, mandrel arm 7 and fork assembly 10, lowered and in their outer-most position to traverse the coil. The operator positions mandrel 8, which is contracted, opposite the hole of the coil, and moves arm of switch 34 to closed position which causes mandrel arm 7 to move inwardly thereby moving mandrel 8 within the hole of the coil of metal.

When mandrel 8 is substantially within the hole, limit switch 20 is actuated causing mandrel arm 7 to stop moving and to expand mandrel 8 until expanding support arms 16 fit snugly within the hole, whereupon limit switch 23 is actuated to its normal position to ready a circuit to contraction solenoid 126. The operator then returns switch 34 to neutral.

A platform or skid is then placed between the coil and fork assembly 10, and the operator then moves switch 32 to closed position which causes fork assembly to close until skid and coil are held tightly between the fork assembly and mandrel arm. The switch 32 is then placed in the neutral position.

The operator now moves switch 33 to the up position whereupon the carriage is raised. The roller 31 of the vertical and horizontal shaft 29 has been in horizontal positioning track 26 maintaining the carriage in a horizontal position, and as the carriage is raised, roller 31 causes the carriage along with the coil and skid to be rotated 90 on rotating member 2 by moving from the horizontal positioning track 26 through vertical and horizontal selector cam 28 into vertical positioning track 27.

When the operator positions switch 33 in the down position, the carriage is lowered in a vertical position since selector cam 28 is spring biased to remain in this position. Thus, the carriage lowers the coil in a vertical position with the coil resting on the skid. When the carriage has reached the end of travel, the operator moves switch 33 to neutral and places switch 34 to open position. The mandrel 8 is contracted through limit switch 23, and when the mandrel has been contracted enough, the movable contact of limit switch 23 is moved to energize solenoid 124 whichcauses mandrel arm 7 to move upwardly thereby removing mandrel 8 from the hole of the coil. The switch 34 is then placed in the neutral position. The fork assembly 10 can be removed by moving the fork assembly down while the truck moves in reverse manner.

The following procedure is for removing a coil from a platform: The truck approaches the coil with the carriage in the vertical position. The mandrel arm 7 is in the upper position and moved to its outermost position. The carriage is moved until mandrel 8 is substantially opposite the hole in the coil and fork assembly 10 engages the skid.

The operator then moves switch 34 to the closed position which causes mandrel arm 7 to move downwardly thereby moving contracted mandrel 8 within the hole of the coil of metal.

When mandrel 8 is substantially within the hole, limit switch 20 is actuated stopping the movement of mandrel arm 7, and mandrel 8 begins expanding until expanding support arms 16 fit snugly within the hole whereupon limit switch 23 is actuated to its normal position as stated above. The operator then returns switch 34 to neutral.

The switch 32 is moved to the closed position which causes the fork assembly to move upward to hold the coil and skid tight. Switch 32 is then returned to neutral position.

The operator moves switch 33 to the up position whereupon the carriage is raised until the roller 31 of the vertical and horizontal shaft 29 is above the vertical and horizontal selector cam 28. The switch 33 is then moved to neutral.

The operator next moves switch 39 to the closed position whereupon cam 28 is held adjacent vertical positioning track 27 in order to allow roller 31 to move into horizontal positioning track 26. The switch 33 is now placed in the down position, and the carriage is lowered with roller 31 moving into the horizontal positioning track 26 thereby causing the carriage, coil and skid to be rotated 90 to a horizontal position while being completely lowered. The switch 33 is moved to the neutral position.

The switch 34 is then moved to the open position. The mandrel 8 is contracted through actuated limit switch 23, and when the mandrel has been contracted enough, the movable contact of limit switch 23 causes mandrel arm 7 to move outwardly thereby removing mandrel 8 from the hole of the coil. The switch 34 is then moved to the neutral position.

The switch 32. is moved to the open position, and fork assembly 10 moves outwardly in order to remove the skid from between the coil and the fork assembly. The switch is then moved to the neutral position, and the truck is moved in reverse manner from the coil of metal which has been placed on its periphery.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a fork lift truck particularly adapted for lifting objects having a hole therethrough, especially rolls of metal or the like, and rotating them 90. The expansible and contractible mandrel insures that a positive holding member will hold the article during handling and rotation thereof.

The apparatus of the present invention has many advantages over the prior art devices in that an article that may be easily damaged by rough handling may be picked up, rotated, transported, and deposited without in any way being damaged by the handling equipment, and in a different position from what it was picked up.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Having described our invention, We claim:

1. Handling apparatus comprising a lift truck having a prime mover, a frame, a carriage having a plate pivoted thereto, said carriage mounted for vertical movement on said frame, spaced left and right engaging arm's extending generally horizontally from said plate, means mounting the engaging arms on the plate for horizontal and vertical movement to open and close the same, one of said arms having an expansible and contractible member thereon, the other arm comprising a fork assembly, a first limit switch mounted adjacent said expansible and contractible member, a second limit switch mounted within said expansible and contractible member, left and right hydraulic cylinders mounted on said truck and connected to move said left and right engaging arms, a valve hydraulically connected to each of said cylinders, said valves being connected to a source of fluid under pressure and each having a neutral position in which no fluid is admitted to the cylinder and engaging arm opening and closing positions, a vertical hydraulic cylinder mount: ed on said truck to move said carriage vertically on the frame, a valve hydraulically connected to said vertical cylinder and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a neutral position in which no fluid is admitted to the cylinder and carriage raising and lowering positions, an expansible and contractible cylinder mounted in said one arm to expand and contract said member, a valve hydraulically connected to said expansible and contractible cylinder and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a neutral position in which no fluid is admitted to the cylinder and expansible and contractible positions, a pair of solenoids for each valve to move it when energized to one or the other non-neutral positions, first and second manually operated switches to control the movement of the carriage and the fork assembly respectively, a third manually operated switch to move inwardly said engaging arm carrying said expansible and contractible member into the hole of an article until actuation of said first limit switch to thereby stop said engaging arm, expand said member, and actuate said second limit switch, and a vertical and horizontal positioning assembly having vertical and horizontal positioning tracks mounted adjacent said frame, said plate having a pivotal member which moves within said tracks to rotate said plate a predetermined amount upon vertical movement of said carriage.

2. Handling apparatus according to claim =1 in which said second limit switch causes horizontal or vertical movement of said one arm.

3. Handling apparatus according to claim 1 in which said vertical and horizontal tracks are mounted in the same plane in parallel, and means for the horizontal track to communicate with the vertical track.

4. Handling apparatus according to claim 3 in which the means for the horizontal track to communicate with the vertical track is a cam.

5. Handling apparatus comprising a lift truck having a prime mover, a frame, a carriage having a plate pivoted thereto, said carriage mounted for vertical movement on said frame, spaced left and right engaging arms, means mounting said arms for horizontal and vertical movement, means to open and close said arms, one of said arms having an expansible and contractible member and the other arm comprising a fork lift assembly, a first limit switch mounted adjacent said expansible and contractible member, a "second limit switch mounted Within said expansible and contractible member, means to stop movement of said one arm and expand said expansible and contractible member upon actuation of said first limit switch, and means to rotate said plate when said carriage is moved vertically.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further including means to contract said expansible and contractible member and move said one arm upon actuation of said second limit switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said means to rotate said plate comprises horizontal and vertical positioning tracks, and means for communication of one track with the other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said means for communication of one track with the other is a cam.

9. Apparatus for handling articles having hole therethrough comprising a pair of spaced engaging members mounted on a supporting member, means operatively connected to said members for moving said members toward and away from each other, means disposed adjacent said supporting member for moving said members and supporting member in a vertical direction, means for carrying and for moving said members in the direction of an article, one of said members having an inwardly extending expansible and contractible segment adapted to engage the hole in said article upon inward movement of the one of said members, means operatively connected 7 to said segment to automatically expand same to snugly engage the hole upon engagement With said article, the other of said members comprising an article engaging assembly, and means disposed adjacent said supporting member to rotate said article during vertical movement of said members.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein means are actuated by said expansible and contractible segment to allow said segment to be expanded and contracted and to allow said one member carrying said segment to move outwardly upon contraction of said segment.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein means are disposed in said last mentioned means to rotate said article between vertical and horizontal positions upon vertical movement of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Remde Oct. 25, Lehmann Sept. 12, Falkner Nov. 11, Garrett Aug. 24, Anjeskey Dec. 14, Farmer June 11, Thomas Aug. 20, Berquist July 1, Todd et al Oct. 14, Garrison et a1. Jan. 26, Arnot Apr. 5, Dunham Feb. 14,

Quayle Feb. 21, 

9. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES HAVING HOLE THERETHROUGH COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED ENGAGING MEMBERS MOUNTED ON A SUPPORTING MEMBER, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBERS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBERS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING MEMBER IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION, MEANS FOR CARRYING AND FOR MOVING SAID MEMBERS IN THE DIRECTION OF AN ARTICLE, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE SEGMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE HOLE IN SAID ARTICLE UPON INWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEGMENT TO AUTOMATICALLY EXPAND SAME TO SNUGLY ENGAGE THE HOLE UPON ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARTICLE, THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS COMPRISING AN ARTICLE ENGAGING ASSEMBLY, AND MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER TO ROTATE SAID ARTICLE DURING VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS. 